Comments for Conscious Ventures

Comment on Fairtrade vs. Rainforest Alliance. Sara Lee vs. Organics. It’s One Big Green Fight by Stuart Singleton-White

Stuart Singleton-White — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:07:18 +0000

Thank you for an interesting and thoughtful article on what I think is a hugely important issue. I think you got to the nub of the issue when you posed the question, “While Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade both have strong ethical agendas, maybe the big issue isn’t which is better but why so many other products sold in our supermarkets have no ethical credentials at all?” This is how the debate should move on, and in it should be included all the self proclaimed labels that many brands and companies put on their products. What matters here, and at the heart of consumer confidence, is whether people can trust the claim. One way of doing that is through knowing the ethical label the company or brand has adopted is independent of that brand and company and rigorous in its auditing and chain of custody processes. Both Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade, in my mind, fall into this category. And for the record, so do other independent labels that operate under the ISEAL Alliance.

However, I do take issue with a couple of things you said about the Rainforest Alliance. This, I believe, is because you based your comments on the Brand Republic, Chris Arnold, article of March 1, 2010; you have therefore repeated some of the errors made in that article. For information I include my response to that article so readers can make up their own minds about the Rainforest Alliance.

“… I think it makes three mistakes. Firstly, it isn’t a debate about Fairtrade v Rainforest Alliance. This is a false premise as both schemes are credible independent scheme which share many objectives. So not either/or but both verses all the non-certified products on the high street.

“I’m not sure I understand your point about “If consumers think Rainforest Alliance is the same as Fairtade this means brands will take the easy road”. Which easy road is this? The Rainforest Alliance certification conforms to a rigorous independent system from the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN). The SAN sets clear and demanding standards covering environmental, economic and social issues. SAN is an independent group which, while including the Rainforest Alliance, also includes many NGO’s from the global south. Rainforest Alliance works at the farm level and many farmers have seen improvements to their land management, the wildlife that share their farms, reforestation, water and waste management, health and safety improvements, and increased income through higher yields, lower costs and better quality.

“You mention the 30 per cent entry point. While true you failed to mention that this was just the start. The Rainforest Alliance believes that sustainability is a journey and works with the companies and brands to work towards a deadline of achieving 100 per cent. At the start the quantity of the commodity required by these brands is often not available. By working with them in this way the Rainforest Alliance is able to bring more farms, farmers and their families into certification; thus increasing the benefits on the ground.

“So keep up the good work Fairtrade and keep up the good work Rainforest Alliance. Only when all commodities are fully certified and sustainable should they rest on their laurels.”

Comment on From Oil Rig to Luxury Eco-Resort by Eco Friendly Resorts

Eco Friendly Resorts — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:05:19 +0000

I heard about this! It’s quite amazing, what an interesting way to really take on the eco challenge and turn something like an oil rig and make it into an eco friendly resort. Great post!

Comment on Fairtrade vs. Rainforest Alliance. Sara Lee vs. Organics. It’s One Big Green Fight by fairtradesleuth

fairtradesleuth — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:18:39 +0000

Sir,
One of the defining factors of the Fairtrade Mark is the Fairtrade premium which is paid in addition to the Fairtrade minimum price.
The Fairtrade Foundation website says the premium is “…for investment in social, environmental or economic development projects, decided upon democratically by producers within the farmers’ organisation or by workers on a plantation.The premium is fixed by the FLO Standards Unit in the same way as the minimum price… …The premium fund is typically invested in education and healthcare, farm improvements to increase yield and quality, or processing facilities to increase income.”
More info here: http://bit.ly/FTPrem
Thank you.

Comment on NEW AGE OF PHILANTHROPY by Fundraising

Fundraising — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:20:54 +0000

thanks !! very helpful post!

Comment on UNDERSTANDING THE EUROPEAN LOHAS MARKET by Reaching the LOHAS consumers « Ckdfs's Blog

Reaching the LOHAS consumers « Ckdfs's Blog — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:08:09 +0000

[...] found two different blog posts analysing the results of the study (http://consciousventures.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/understanding-the-european-lohas-market/ and [...]

Comment on THE ROLE OF HR IN CSR by James Epstein-Reeves

James Epstein-Reeves — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:15:13 +0000

Interesting, looking forward to reading more of your posts.

http://www.citizenpolity.com

Comment on Hello world! by Mr WordPress

Mr WordPress — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:30:15 +0000

Hi, this is a comment.
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